Chapter Text
“I aired out the cottage and put fresh sheets on the bed,” Lewis said. “It’s not much, but it’s what I could do. I know it’s a bit ‘rustic’-”
Robin coughed loudly.
“Crusty” she croaked through the coughing.
“-but it has good bones. And don’t listen to Robin. She just wants to sell you one of her house upgrades.”
Robin and Lewis stared daggers at each other for a moment before their glares broke into smirks.
“Well, we should let you rest,” Lewis said. “I’m sure you’re tired from your long trip.”
Daisy nodded wearily.
“Yeah, it’s been a long day.”
“Get some rest,” Lewis said. “I left you a little something in the cottage to help you get started whenever you’re ready. Have a good night.”
Lewis shook her hand, and the pair departed.
Daisy trudged into the small cottage, lugging her bag behind her, and surveyed her new home. It was definitely shabby. Someone, Lewis she assumed, had done a serviceable, though obviously rushed job of sweeping the floor and dusting the old dinner table. She sat on the bed. The quilt smelled freshly laundered, a small but welcome courtesy.
Daisy kicked off her shoes and pulled off her prosthetic arm and set it on the floor before lying down on the bed. She reached up with her residual arm. She imagined she could see the stars appearing above her, and that she could reach out and touch them. That her residual arm could stretch impossibly far and grasp the tiny twinkling lights.
This was a disaster, she thought. There was nothing left of the farm she remembered visiting. The rows of vibrant green crops. The coop full of curious, clucking chickens. The barn with gentle cows and the cranky goat that ate her shoelace when she wasn’t paying attention.
It was all gone. There was nothing left except rocks, weeds and debris.
Daisy’s eyes filled with tears. This was supposed to be her second chance. Her do over. And it felt like it was done before it started.
Daisy took a long, slow breath. She was here now, and she had to make the best of it. A wave of loneliness washed over her. She wished her brother Cori was here. Or even her sister Clover. The feeling followed her as she fell into a restless sleep.
~~~
Daisy groaned and opened her eyes. The ceiling above her was equal parts strange and familiar, concerning and nostalgic.
She reached over the side of the bed for her prosthesis and seated it on her left arm. She flexed the prosthetic hand experimentally a few times to make sure it was working correctly before sitting up. She didn’t rely on her left hand much. She used the prosthesis mostly for cosmetic reasons. But that was no reason to let it stop working.
Daisy stood up and looked around the cottage. It was little better in the daylight. Still musty and in disrepair. She spied a small parcel by the front door, along with a worn looking hoe with a yellow bow tied to it. That must be Lewis’ ‘little something’. She opened the parcel to find a small packet of seeds.
Daisy stretched and hefted the hoe.
Well, she thought, it’s time to be a farmer.
~~~
Haley groaned and rolled out of bed.
At least she tried.
And tried again.
The third time her feet managed to find the floor.
“Ugh,” she grunted as she staggered to her vanity, very pointedly not looking at her clock. Time was for the weak. And the employed.
Not that there were really jobs around. Just like there were no clothing stores, no coffee shops, and no future.
Fuck this back-woods middle-of-nowhere podunk pissant town.
She took a passing glance at herself in the mirror. It was a mistake. She’d need a lot of work before she left the house today. If she did.
“Afternoon, sleepy head,” Emily said brightly as Haley emerged from the bedroom.
Shit.
“Afternoon,” Haley croaked.
“You must really have been exhausted,” Emily said.
“I guess,” Haley deflected as she headed toward the kitchen. She didn’t need Emily’s passive aggressiveness this mor- afternoon. She knew she’d… well, not fucked up, exactly, but had overly taxed Emily’s good nature. She’d have to find a way to make it up to her.
But not now. Not right now, when Haley looked like… this, and could barely speak in anything other that grunts if she didn’t get a fucking glass of water right now damn it.
Haley fumbled in the cupboard for a glass.
“I’m leaving for work soon,” Emily called. “Maybe I’ll see you tonight, since you’ll likely be awake later?”
Double shit.
She had seriously overslept if Emily was leaving already.
Haley turned on the faucet and poured herself some water. She hastily gulped some down.
“Sorry, Em,” she said. “I had a really rough night. I promise I’ll come visit you at the saloon as soon as I get myself together.”
“I understand,” Emily replied.
Bullshit, Haley thought. She’s never had a bad night in her life.
“See you at the saloon,” Emily called.
Haley sagged in relief when she heard the front door close. She dropped her face into her hands and tried to resist the urge to sob.
Everything was wrong. Her life was wrong. This town was wrong. She was wrong.
Haley set the glass in the sink and trudged to the bathroom. She’d have to clean up before she went to the saloon.
~~~
Daisy stepped out of the shower and grabbed an old shirt to use as a towel. ‘Linens’ had been added to her ever-growing list of things she needed to buy once she actually had an income.
Daisy sighed. She didn't know what she'd been expecting when she got here. All she knew was that she'd desperate to escape her job at Joja.
But now….
No. NO. Nothing was worth going back to Joja.
Even if she was going to go hungry for the foreseeable future.
Daisy looked at her wardrobe. Lewis suggested going to the Stardrop Saloon to meet people. She needed a cute outfit. Daisy picked out a simple sleeveless dress. A long sleeve shirt worn under it would give a nice contrast and help disguise her prosthesis. Not that she was embarrassed by her arm. Only that she didn’t want that to be the first thing people associated her with. Or have people treat her like she’s helpless. Or pity her. Or avoid her.
Daisy signed again and grabbed her prosthesis to seat it in place.
It would be fine. The people here were notoriously nice. It would be fine.
Probably.
~~~
“Ew.”
Daisy blinked.
“Well, okay then” she told the blonde woman, stepping away.
That could have gone better. Daisy took a breath and looked around. A scruffy man in a blue Joja hoody stood nursing a beer. Maybe he would be friendlier.
She stepped up to him.
“Hi! I’m-”
“The fuck are you talking to me for?” he demanded.
Daisy stepped back hastily.
“Uh… s-sorry!” she exclaimed.
The man ignored her and went back to his beer.
“Don’t mind them,” said a voice to her left. “Shane’s a tough nut to crack. And I don’t know what’s up with Haley.”
“Haley?” Daisy asked, turning to the speaker.
Said speaker turned out to be a woman with brilliant blue hair, and an equally brilliant smile.
“Haley,” the blue-haired woman confirmed. “My sister.”
“Si..ster..?” Daisy repeated dumbly. The entire situation was leaving her feeling shell shocked.
“I think she’s adopted,” the woman whispered conspiratorially. “Anyway, I’m Emily, and I work here at the Stardrop.”
Emily took Daisy by the elbow and guided her to the bar. Daisy stiffened as Emily touched her prosthesis, but Emily didn’t seem to notice.
“And you must be the new farmer everyone’s talking about,” She said. “Gus owns the saloon. Where’s Gus? HEY GUS! COME MEET THE NEW FARMER!”
A stout, mustachioed man with a ruddy complexion and an easy smile hustled out from the back.
“Welcome! Welcome!” he exclaimed. “Welcome to the Stardrop, and to Pelican Town. We’re overdue for some new blood around here. Poor Leah must be tired of being the new girl in town by now. I’m sure you’ll love the town as much as we do! Here, have a beer on the house!”
“Oh, th-thank you!” Daisy said.
“And here,” Emily continued, “take this glass of wine over to Leah for me. I promise she won’t bite your head off.”
Leah was gorgeous. She had an effortless beauty about her. The type that let you believe that her morning routine consisted of little more than a quick shower.
Daisy didn’t believe it, of course. Leah’s eyebrows were just a touch too sculpted, and her lips gleamed with what could be lip balm, but was probably a gloss, adding a hit of color. Not that Daisy held it against her. Quite the contrary. Leah had wisely struck a delicate balance of accentuating her natural beauty without over-complicating it, and it worked for her. Oh, did it ever work.
“Hi,” Daisy said as she approached. “I believe this is for you.”
Leah’s eyes sparked, and her lip curled in the hint of a smirk.
“Strangers buying me drinks? Oh, my! I do hope your intentions are pure.”
Daisy felt her face ignite.
“I… um… E-emily said you’d ordered this wine? You are Leah, yeah?”
Leah leaned forward. If her eyes sparkled before, they gleamed now with an almost predatory shine.
“Lose your nerve, did you? Afraid that little ol’ Leah is going to carry you off and ravish you? Or maybe hoping I will?”
Daisy stammered as her words failed her.
“Now, Leah, give the poor girl a break.”
Daisy turned to view the new speaker. It was an average height man with gorgeous hair and a dapper affect. He offered a sympathetic, though not unamused smile.
“You must be the new farmer that has the town abuzz. I’m Elliot. Don’t let Leah’s coquettish mien dissuade you. She’s all bark and no bite. Quite harmless, I assure you.”
“Spoilsport,” Leah retorted, sticking out her tongue at Elliot.
“Please,” Elliot said, “have a seat. Join us.”
Daisy placed her beer on the table and sat, carefully setting the glass of wine before Leah.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Elliot said. “Miss…”
“Just call me Daisy,” Daisy said. “Nice to meet you both. At least someone here isn’t going to insult me or bite my head off.”
Elliot raised an eyebrow and Leah chuckled.
“She hit both Haley and Shane first thing,” Leah said. “I was going to rescue her, but Emily beat me to it.”
Elliot hummed before sipping from his own wine glass.
“Two prickly characters, indeed.”
“Haley is Emily’s sister,” Leah explained, “but the two couldn’t be more different. Emily’s a sweetheart who goes out of her way for everyone, and Haley….”
“Haley has always struck me as a bit… materialistic,” Elliot said. “Focusing on clothes and fashion.”
“And Shane…” Leah continued, “well, Emily considers him a friend, so there has to be something there, but…”
“He’s… not a people person,” Elliot supplied.
“That’s one way of putting it,” Daisy groused. She risked a look over her shoulder at the stubbled man glaring at his beer.”
“Don’t be discouraged,” Elliot assured her. “There’s plenty of nice people here. Marnie, for instance.”
“Marnie’s a dear,” Leah said. “She lives on a ranch just south of the old… your… farm. She loves animals. If you build a coop or barn, she’s your girl. I actually live just down the road from her, so you can come visit. And then there’s Pam. She’s… well, she’s friendly.”
“Pam’s going through a rough patch at the moment,” Elliot added. “She drove the local bus, but it’s currently in less than optimal condition.”
“It died,” Leah clarified. “And there’s not enough money to get it fixed.”
“Which leaves poor Pam unemployed,” Elliot continued. “Which gives her ample time to spend here.”
“These are the regulars,” Leah said. “You’re lucky Elliot showed up today. He only makes an appearance once or twice a week.”
“Friday is when the Stardrop really comes to life,” Elliot said. “Most of the town makes an appearance.”
Daisy took a slow, deep breath, realizing how close to the surface, and how severe her anxiety had gotten.
“Well, it certainly does sound lively.”
“It’s a small town,” Leah said. “Aside from some of the bigger festivals, that’s about as exciting as it gets here. Don’t worry, it’s not quite as boring as all that. I’ve really come to love it here. We’re so close to nature, and everything is so alive and growing. I hope you’ll feel the same.”
“As a newly minted farmer, I certainly hope so,” Daisy joked. “If I find out I have a brown thumb I’m in for a bad time.”
Elliot and Leah chuckled.
“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted.
Daisy turned to see Haley standing there, face torn between annoyance and contrition. Emily stood behind her, giving her a hard look.
“I... should apologize,” Haley said. “I’ve been in a bad mood, but it wasn’t fair to take it out on you. I’m Haley. Welcome to town.”
Haley stuck out her left hand.
Daisy hesitated. Unless Haley was much denser than she looked, her prosthesis definitely wouldn’t pass for real, but not accepting would only make things worse. There was nothing for it.
Daisy rose.
“Daisy,” she said. “Pleased to meet you.”
She reached out and accepted Haley’s hand.
“Same,” Haley replied. “See, Emily? I can behave. Yoba, you’d think that- OW! OW LEGGO!”
“What?” Daisy replied in a panic. “I did!”
“OW! LET GO OF ME!” Haley screamed, futilely . “FUCKING BITCH LET GO!”
“I’M TRYING,” Daisy yelled back. “Sometimes it gets stuck. WILL YOU HOLD STILL!?!”
Daisy popped the prosthesis from its place and pulled it from her sleeve. She tucked it under her arm to try and hold it still enough through Haley’s flailing to fish for the release. Awkwardly she managed to catch the safety release which cut the power and released the servos, making the synthetic arm go limp. Haley reeled backwards, now free of the iron grip.
The saloon went silent as everyone stared at Daisy, prosthesis held limply in her hand.
Daisy bolted for the door and fled out into the night.
~~~
Emily glared at Haley.
“You didn’t have to make such a fuss,” she said accusingly.
“It hurt!” Haley protested.
“I’m going to have to make it up to her,” Emily muttered. “Clearly one of us has to, and-”
“THAT’S NOT FAIR,” Haley cried. “It wasn’t your hand she was crushing. And what about me?!? Don’t you care about me?!? That… thing was crushing my hand, and you’re acting like I was just throwing a tantrum!
Emily pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Honestly, Haley. You’re acting-”
Haley stormed out of the saloon, fighting back tears.
~~~
“Haley?”
The words were accompanied by a soft knock on her bedroom door.
Haley tried to ignore them both. Her face felt puffy from all the crying she’d done, and her eyes were sore. She felt in no condition for company.
“Haley, I’m sorry,” Emily said. “You were right. I should have listened to you. You were in pain, and I… I just heard commotion. I didn’t think about what Daisy’s… Daisy’s… arm was doing to you. She just looked so panicked. So afraid. I… I’m sorry. Neither one of you deserved what happened. It was no one’s fault. But I should have seen to my sister’s safety. Please. I…”
Haley opened the door and threw her arms around Emily.
Emily wrapped her arms around Haley and sniffled. Haley could feel Emily’s tears on her neck.
“Yoba, the two of us,” Emily croaked. “What are we going to do with ourselves?